A JUDGE has ruled a transsexual cannot have access to the daughter of two lesbians as it "might damage" the young girl.

Judge Clifford Bellamy ruled the transsexual should not have contact with the girl

Details have just emerged of the complicated life of the nine-year-old, who was conceived by donor insemination. At age three her two "mothers" split up - with the non-biological mum moving in with a female-to-male transsexual.

The daughter stayed with the new couple but, when they separated around two years ago, the transsexual decided he wanted contact with the confused girl, leading to a court case.

In a written ruling Judge Clifford Bellamy, who sits in Leicester, said: "The girl's story is an example of the different ways in which modern family life is formed.

"Modern family life can be complicated."

Both mothers, as well as the sperm donor father - who was in a relationship with a man when the girl was born - objected to the transsexual having contact.

In the case, in which none of the parties can be identified, Judge Bellamy heard the girl referred to the transsexual as "dad". The judge was also told the transsexual had "played a part" in caring for her.

But he also heard the non-biological mother had been concerned about aspects of the girl's behaviour when she was living with the transsexual.

He ruled the girl already engaged with a "range of adults" and allowing the transsexual's application could have a "damaging effect" on her welfare.

The judge said: "Whilst they were cohabiting, the girl began to call herself a boy's name and stated that she was a boy.

"There were times when she avoided playing with gender-appropriate toys.

"The non-biological mother was very concerned about this.

"She felt that the transsexual was encouraging this behaviour. He denies that that was the case.

"The non-biological mother says that this behaviour has stopped since she and the transsexual separated."

The transsexual had argued the girl knew him as a "father figure" and wanted the judge to award him "some contact" with the girl.

But the non-biological mother said there was "considerable acrimony" between her and the transsexual, and there was a risk that the girl would be brought into that "arena of conflict" and harmed.

The girl's story is an example of the different ways in which modern family life is formed.

Judge Clifford Bellamy

The biological mother also opposed the transsexual's application for contact.

She said she had noted a "marked improvement" in the girl's "general well-being" since the transsexual was "not involved in her care".

The biological mother added: "The girl is now in the loving care of her core family. She has her 'de facto' mother... her mother and occasionally her biological father. She is doing well at school.

"It is time to put the dangerous drama of the past behind her once and for all. She must be allowed to simply settle down. She has all that she needs."

She said the girl already had "two mothers" and the youngster needed "peace and quiet" more than she needed a "father figure"..

Judge Bellamy said: "There is no doubt that the transsexual spent a significant period of time living with the girl during which he may well have become - and indeed may still be - a social and psychological parent.

"That is a positive factor to be weighed in the balance."

But he said there were other factors, one of which was the "potentially damaging effect" on the girl's welfare.

He added: "Taking a global view of the facts and circumstances of this case I come to the conclusion that this application should be refused."